Outlet valve for tank cars



Oct. 30 1923.

E. L. CHATFIELD OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK CARS Patented Get. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES EARL L. CHATFIELD, OF WEST TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

OUTLET VALVE FOR TANK CARS.

Application led February 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,973.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL L. CHATFIELD, citizen of the United States, and resident of Test Tulsa, county of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Outlet Valves for Tank Cars, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bottom outlet valves for tank cars and has for its object to produce a valve of this character which shall not be subject to any of the objectional features of the valves now used in such constructions.

A further object is to produce a valve in which the valve seat is independent of the outlet chamber and which has no stem or wings projecting into such chamber and, therefore, should the outlet chamber be injured through accident the valve will not be unseated and there will be no escape of liquid from the tank.

Another object is to produce a valve which will not be unseated through distortion of the tank due to the jars and twist incidental to the travel of the car, or back wash of its contents and which will not be affected by change in the diameter of the tank due to the internal pressure therein.

A still further object is to produce a valve which is not liable to being clamped upon its seat, and which will also automatically force any scale from its face and its seat under the closing action of the valve.

1With the objects named in view, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and organization of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a tank and illustrates the valve and its mechanism in closed position.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken through the tank and shows the valve and mechanism in the same position as shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a. foreshortened central vertical section through the valve and its operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrates a modification of the outlet chamber.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 is the body of a tank car, 2 the customary dome and 3 the cover thereof as found in the ordinary construction of such cars. Vertically belowthe dome and in communication with the tank is an outlet chamber 4.

lVithin the tank 1 andl secured thereto by means of its outturned flanges, as illustrated, and embracing the point of communication of the outlet chamber with the tank is a valve cage 5 of inverted U-shape. Within the case is an oscillatory valve 6 of semi-cylindrical form in cross section and provided with a valve passage or recess 6 adapted to be brought in register with the outlet chamber 4 when the valve is partially rotated. The valve 6 is held yieldingly on a valve seat 7 formed in the face of the outlet chamber, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or in the belly of the tank 1, as shown in the modification (Figure 6), under the pressure imposed on it by a valve bearing plate 8 of semi-cylindrical shape to correspond with the valve 6. The bearing plate 8 is formed with a pair of tubular guides 9 slidinglyreceiving guide stems 10 mounted in a cross piece 11 formed with a key-hole slot 11a to permit operative movement of parts 13 and 15 hereinafter referred to.

Encircling the tubular guides and guide stems is a pair of expansive springs 12, pressing at their upper ends against collars provided on the guide stems and at their lower ends against the valve bearing 8, which thus, through these connections, continuously applies pressure on the valve to hold the same on its seat 7 and to take up any wear which may occur on the face of the valve or its seat.

Turning movement of the valve is effected by means of a U-shaped bracket 18 immovably embracing and secured to the opposite ends of the valve 6 and having an outwardly projecting arm portion 13aL pivotally connected to an arcuate arm 14, having pivotal connection at its opposite end with a vertical operating rod 15. To insure substantially vertical movement of the rod 15, it passes through a perforation 16 in the top of the valve cage, as illustrated.

The upper end of rod 15 has pivotal connection within the dome 2 with an operating handle 17, pivotally connected at one end to a link 18, the opposite end of the link being fulcrumed in a supporting bracket 19 secured to the inner face of the dome 2 and projecting inwardly. It will be noted that the rod l5 also passes through a perforation in the end of bracket 19 in order to aid the valve cage in insuring direct upward vertical movement of the rod 15. It will be apparent that the link 18 is pivoted at its opposite ends in order to permit rod 15 to have direct vertical movement, as otherwise the operation of the rod 15 would have a tendency to force the valve from its seat.

` It will be noted that the valve is of such construction that the closing operation thereof will always clean any foreign particles which may adhere to the face oi the valve, by contact with the edges'otl the valve seat 7.

It will also be apparent that, due to the flexible or floating relation between the valve and the cage, the former will maintain its proper position relative to the valve seat regardless of expansion or distortion of the tank from heat or from weaving or swaying Vmovements 0i the tank while intravel.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a valve of the character described which possesses all of the features of advantage set forth as desirableV 'ing within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: LA tank having a discharge opening at itg lower side provided with a valve seat, aV

valve cage associated with said opening, a cylindricalV valve having but a short section of its circumference fitted on said valve seat,

and yieldingly actuated means within said valve cage for applying downward pressure on said valve, and means I'or impartingoscillatory movement to the valve.

2. A tank having a discharge opening at its, lower side provided with a valve seat, a valve cage above said valve seat', a cylindrical valve having but a short section of its circumference engaged with said vaIVeseat, a spring-actuated bearing spaced from said valve seat for applying downward pressure on said valve, and lever-actuated means for imparting oscillatory movement to the valve.

3. A tank having av discharge opening at its lower side provided with a valve seat, a valve cage above said valve seat, a Vcylindrical valve having but a short section of its circumference engaged Vwith said Vvalve seat, a valve bearing engaging said valve and spaced from said valve seat, Vspring elements interposed between said valve cage and valve bearing for applying downward pressure on the latter, and lever meansoper'able from the top or" the tank for imparting oscillatory movement to the said valve.

4;. A tank having a dome at its upper side and a diametrically opposed discharge opening at its lower side provided with a' valve seat, a valve cage above saidseat and secured to the tank, a cylindrical valve on said seat, spring-actuated means for applying downward pressure on said valve, a `crank arm for said valve, an operating rod attached to said crank arm and extending into the dome, and alever attached to said operating rod for imparting oscillatory 'movement to the valve. Y y Y In witness whereof I hereunto aliiX my EARL L. oHATrinLn 

